Pismo Beach, CA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Section 5.04.180 sits in the business license chapter and prices the license by the number of rental units, so the size of the operation sets the fee. A rental unit is a residential unit having facilities for permanent residential needs of the family within that unit. The count is the total number of units in all buildings the licensee operates within the city, not the units in one building, and a unit actually occupied by the licensee, or by the licensee's agent or employee as manager of the apartment house, is left out. The duty starts at three units: anyone keeping, operating or managing three or more rental units available for rental in the city pays.

The fee schedule is $30.00 for 3 to 6 units, $40.00 for 7 to 10, $50.00 for 11 to 25, $60.00 for 26 to 50 and $70.00 for 51 units or more, each an annual amount. The general licensing rules of Chapter 5.04 sit on top of that fee. Under § 5.04.020 the license comes from the administrator, the city's administrative services director, and where the business operates at a fixed location the license is displayed in a conspicuous place there. Under § 5.04.070 the applicant completes the administrator's form, which can be required online, and certifies under penalty of perjury that its contents are true and correct. Licenses are paid in advance, the annual payment is due on October 1 of each licensing year, and the licensing year runs from October 1 to September 30 (§§ 5.04.060 and 5.04.010).

Short-term rentals carry their own business license and tax steps. Both zoning codes printed under Title 17, § 17.113.080 (1983 Zoning Ordinance) and § 17.09.080 (1998 Zoning Code), require the owner to submit a business license application identifying the property as a short-term rental or homestay and then to hold a TOT/LBID/TMD certificate. This page quotes only the rental unit license fee in § 5.04.180.